Yupin Tanatwanit
Burapha University, Thailand
Title: Analyzing and Synthesizing the Palliative Care System Providing Continuum Care from Healthcare Services to Homes in End-of-Life Patients in the East of Thailand
Biography
Biography: Yupin Tanatwanit
Abstract
The descriptive qualitative design aimed to study the palliative care system providing continuum care from healthcare services to homes in end-of-life (EOL) persons in the East of Thailand. The samples were both healthcare providers and EOL patients and their family caregivers from three selected palliative care networks. These were recruited by the purposive sampling technique. Three methods were used to collect data: group meeting of healthcare providers (2 networks: N1 = 80, N2 = 60), focus group (1 network of healthcare providers [N3 = 26]), and in-depth interview for EOL persons (N = 5) and their family caregivers (N = 8). Four instruments were applied: Palliative Performance Scale Version 2 (PPSv2), Demographic data forms, Issues for group discussion, and Semi-Structured Interview Guide. The data were noted, documented, and recorded by two tape-recorders. The data were summarized and categorized; and then validated in the meeting among 5 research leaders (5 regions of Thailand). In addition, the literature review was used to synthesize for quality palliative care model.
The results revealed that the palliative care system in Thailand still needed to be improved continuously encompassing 8 aspects: palliative care system and structure, law-ethics, palliative care service, palliative care system linking between healthcare services and homes, drug management, medical-equipment management, referral system, and palliative-care support. For Thai palliative care model, 4 models should be considered: Hospital palliative care model, Hospice center, Home-based palliative care model, and Rapid response service (RRS) for emergency. Conclusion, palliative care system in Thailand still needs to be improved.